Space heater with flame spreader



1964 P. WOLLNER SPACE HEATER WITH FLAME SPREADER Filed May 23, 1962 W Tessa W INVENTOR PAUL Wall/V51? BY W /l 770/P/VE/5 Dec. 8, 1964 P. WOLLNER 3,150,401

SPACE HEATER WITH FLAME SPREADER Filed May 25, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR PAUL W01 .4 Nfl? Dec. 8, 1964 P. WOLLNER 3,

SPACE HEATER WITH FLAME SPREADER Filed May 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 (In! W 45 INVENTOR.

PAUL W011 A/fl? Patented Dec; 8 1964 3,160,481 SPACE HEATER WKTH FLAME SPREADER Paul Wollner, North Bergen, Ni, assignor to Aer-oil Products Company, Inc., South Haclrensaclr, NJ, a corporation of New Jersey Fiied May 23, 1962, Ser. No. 196,970 2 Claims. (til. 263- 163 This invention relates to space heaters of the forced air type adapted for heating buildings such as warehouses, storage sheds, buildings under construction and the like, and the invention has particular reference to a fan-type space heater for burning high or low pressure gaseous fuel.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fan-type space heater in which the flow of air from the fan is mixed with the gases of combustion in peripheral formation about the inner periphery of the housing so as to evenly heat the air and prevent overheating of the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a space heater of said character which is constructed and arranged to spread the flame from the burner peripherally within the housing and in the path of the flow of air from the fan to thoroughly mix the air with the heated gas of the combustion whereby the heated air discharged from the space heater is substantially evenly heated.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of spaced members located forwardly of the burner which confine the flow of the air from the fan peripherally between said members and the housing to thereby provide a positive pressure in the air about said members and a suction or negative pressure within the space therebetween so as to spread the flame outwardly and evenly about the inner periphery of the housing, thus thoroughly mixing the hot gases of combustion with the air from the fan and achieving more thorough combustion of the fuel.

With the aforegoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a space heater constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation on a reduced scale of the space heater taken from the forward end thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the torch burner showing the pilot burner connected therewith.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation on a reduced scale of the torch burner taken from the rear and looking forwardly thereof.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the burner pilot and windproof assembly.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on 66 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the space heater is adapted to be moved from place to place for use as desired for line heating buildings, buildings under construction and the a 5 like and, as illustrated, the same may be of the rollable type having wheels 10 mounted on a cross shaft 11 carried by a base 12 and with handle members 13 for manually rolling the heater.

The heater (includes a cylindrical housing 14 which is open at its ends and is provided with a cylindrical member 15 disposed in spaced relation about the outer end portion thereof which projects forwardly to provide a venturi nozzle for the flow of cold air between said member and the outer end portion of the housing for mixing with the heated air discharged from the housing.

Arranged within the housing 14 is a fan 16 and which is directly coupled with an electric motor 17 mounted upon the base 12 adjacent the handle 13 and with the fan 16 arranged concentric within the housing 10. Located forwardly of the fan 16 is a torch burner 18 which in= cludes a cylindrical casing 19 having a burner nozzle 20 connected with a fuel line 21 leading from a supply of gaseous fuel. The casing 19 is open at its forward end and aflixed thereto is an annular shield 22 of arcuate shaped formation in section which is arranged With the periphery 23 thereof disposed in narrowly spaced relation from the housing 14 for confining the flow of air peripherally about said shield and between the same and the housing. Arranged forwardly of the shield 22 is a flame spreader 24 which, as illustrated, may be of arcuate formation in section with the peripheral edge 25 thereof located in narrowly spaced relation from the shield 22 and which functions to reduce the velocity of the'cinflarnmable gas and air mixture adjacent the outer end of the casing 19 and to deflect the same outwardly between the shield and flame spreader. By reason of the reduction in velocity of the gas and air mixture igniting thereof takes place adjacent the outer end of the casing 19 with the flame spreading radially outward between the shield and flame spreader into an annular patternabout the inner periphery of the housing.

It will be understood that the air flowing from the fan in annular formation between the housing 14 and the outer periphery of the shield is at a positive pressure peripherally about and forwardly of the shield whereby a negative pressure or suction exists in the annular space 26 between the shield and the peripheral edge of the flame spreader 23 to thereby draw the flame and gases annularly through the said space 26. The flame and gases thus sucked through the space 26 are intermixed with the'annular stream of air from the fan so as to consume all the remaining unburned gases in the fuel and thoroughly mix the heated products of combustion with the air from the fan to evenly heat the air.

The torch burner 18 is supported centrally of the longitudinal axis of the housing by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced flat bars 28 aflixed thereto forwardly of a pilot burner and Windproof assembly 29 and with the outer ends of the rods 28 bolted or otherwise affixed to the housing 10 as at 30. The flame spreader 24 is affixed to the shield 22 by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced flat bars 31 which bars are aflixed at their forward ends to the inside face of the flame spreader and at their inner ends to the forward face of the shield. A plurality of circumferentially spaced short angle bars 32 are aflixed in any desired manner to the inner and outer faces of the cylindrical member 15 and housing 14 for mounting said cylindrical member in fixed position thereon.

The torch burner 18 is provided with a fuel jacket 33 which extends peripherally about the casing 19 and into which the fuel line 21 opens for feeding liquid fuel such as liquefied petroleum gas thereto under pressure. The fuel is vaporized within the jacket 33 by the heat of the flame jet from the torch burner 20, the vaporized fuel being discharged from the jacket through a pipe line 34 which leads therefrom and is connected with the burner nozzle 20. The pipe line 34 projects through the rear wall 35 of the casing 19 which is apertured as at 36, on

33 and is constructed so as to prevent extinguishing of the pilot flame whereby the burner 20 is instantaneously.

relighted if for any reason the same becomesextinguished. The pilot burner and windproof assembly includes a casing 38 which is aflixed to the jacket 33 in any desired manner and is provided with one or more air inlets 39 a or manufactured r9 1 Q located adjacent the forward end thereof and with a flame outlet 4-0 arranged in oppositely disposed relation from the air inlets 39 and which flame outlet is in radial alignment with an opening 41 in the casing 19 of the torch burner. The casing 38 is provided with a baifle plate .42

which extends longitudinally of the casing in angular rela-' tion with the longitudinal axis thereof so as to provide a narrow space4-3 between the same and the casing 38 adjacent the pilot burner 44. The baflie plate 42projects through the forward end of the casing 38 with the protruding end thereof forming a hood 45 which extends about the flame outlet 48 so as to shield and deflect the flame from the pilot burner 44 toward the opening 41. The air inlets 39 are shielded by a semi-cylindrical shield 47 which is afiixed in any desired manner to the casing 38 and baflle plate 42 with the outer rim 48 thereof disposed in spaced overlying relation with the air inlets 39 whereby the shield 47 and the hood 45 close the forward end of the casing 38 with the exception of the air inlets 39 and flame outlet 40. Constructed in this manner the pilot burner 44 burns continuously within the casing 38 and is not aflected by outside influence or the suction created between the shield 22 and flamespreader 23. Should the suction adjacent the outer end of the casing 19 draw the flame away from the flame outlet 4%), the flame of the pilot burner 44 will again be projected through the outlet 40 and toward the opening 41 so as to relightthe burner'nozzle 20 in the event the same becomes extinguished for any reason. The opening 41 is located adjacent the outer end of the casing 38 adjacent the shield 22 whereby the suction created between the shield 22 and flame spreader 24 functions to draw the flame inwardly through the opening 41 and into the gasand air fuel mixture within the casing 19. 7

It will be understood that the fuel jacket 33 is adapted for use with liquefied petroleum gas which is vaporized within the jacket and discharged from the burner nozzle 7 as a gas- If liquefied gas is used as the fuel which is vaporized within the shipping container or if natural gas be eliminated. a

The pilot burner 44 is connected with a source of fuel and valve and automatic control means (not shown) are provided therebetween. Combined automatic temperature and safety control means (not shown) are provided. between the source of fuel and the burner nozzle 28 which means are preferably located in the base 12 of the space heater. The motor 17 is connected with a suitable source of electrical current.

gas is employed,..the fuel jacket 33 may tionally arcuate in formationand larger than the open end of said casing, so as to extend across the entire open end thereof, a motor driven fan mounted within said housing with the fan disposed rearwardly of the torch burner for directing a flow of air, peripherally about said shield and forwardly thereof to thereby produce a suction between said shield and flame spreader for drawing the flame jet outwardly into the air stream to thereby heat the air stream propelled by the fan through the housing, said torch burner casing having a side opening adjacent the outer end ,thereof, a pilot'burner including a casing secured in fixed position adjacent said torch burner 'and having a pilot nozzle at one end thereof, a baflie extending longitudinally within said casing and providing with said pilot burner casing a longitudinally extending air passageway on one side of said baffle and a flame passageway from said pilot burner on the other side thereof and a restricted space for the flow of air from said air passage way adjacent said nozzle, and said casing having one or more air inlets on one side of said baffle and a flame outlet on the opposite side thereof for directing the flame from the pilot nozzle toward said side opening in the torch burner casing for relighting the torch burner in the event 7 that the same became extinguished.

2. In a space heater, a housing open at its forward end, a torch burner secured in fixed position within said housing axially thereof having an open forward end, a shield secured in fixed surrounding relation on the forward end of said torch burner and withthe outer periphery of said shield arranged forwardly of the open end of said torch burner and in spaced relation from the inner periphery of V the housing, a flame spreader secured in fixed position forwardly of said shield and in spaced relation therewith for receiving thereagainst the flame jet from the torch burner extending axially through said open end and for deflecting and spreading the flame jetfrom said torch burner outwardly between said shield and spreader, said spreader being sectionally arcuate in formation and larger than the open end of said casing, so as to extend across the entire open end thereof, a motor driven fan mounted within said housing with the fan disposed rearwardly of the torch burner for directing a flow of air peripherally about said shield and forwardly thereof to thereby produce a suction between said shield and flame spreader for drawing the flame jet outwardly into the air stream to thereby heat the air propelled by the fan through the housing, said torch burner having a side opening adjacent the outer end'thereof, a pilotburner including a casing seeuredin fixed position adjacent said torch burner and having a pilot nozzle at one end thereof, a baffle extending longitudinally withinrsaid casing andproviding with 1. In a space heater, a housing having an open forward 7 end, a torch burner secured in fixed: position within the housing to extend longitudinally thereof and including a casing having an open forward end located substantially medial of the length of the housingand having a burner nozzle adjacent the rear thereof, a shield secured in fixed surrounding relation on the forward end of said casing and with the outer periphery of said shield arranged forwardly of the open end of said casing and in spaced relabetween-said shield and'spreader, said spreader being sec-r 7 said pilot burner casing a longitudinally extending air passageway on one side of said baflie and a flarne'passageway from said pilot burner on'the other side thereof and a restricted space for the flow of air froni'said air passageway adjacent said nozzle,'and said casing having one or more air inlets on one side of said baffle opening into said 7 air passageway and a flame outlet on the opposite side thereof for directing the flame from the pilot nozzle to- ,ward said side opening in the'torch burner "for reiighting the torch burner in the event that the same became extinguished.

References Cited in the file of this patent v 2 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,863,391 Bluemel June'14, 1932 2,541,332 yCampbell Feb. 1'3, 1951 2,781,637 Dougherty Feb. 19, 1957 2,889,142 Ammann June 2, 1959 v 2,966,944 Downs Jan. 3, 1961 2,974,487 I Stokes et al. 4L- Mar.14,' 1961 3,855,145 Lindsay Sept. 25, 19 62 

1. IN A SPACE HEATER, A HOUSING HAVING AN OPEN FORWARD END, A TORCH BURNER SECURED IN FIXED POSITION WITHIN THE HOUSING TO EXTEND LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND INCLUDING A CASING HAVING AN OPEN FORWARD END LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY MEDIAL OF THE LENGTH OF THE HOUSING AND HAVING A BURNER NOZZLE ADJACENT THE REAR THEREOF, A SHIELD SECURED IN FIXED SURROUNDING RELATION ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID CASING AND WITH THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID SHIELD ARRANGED FORWARDLY OF THE OPEN END OF SAID CASING AND IN SPACED RELATION FROM THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE HOUSING, A FLAME SPREADER SECURED IN FIXED POSITION IN CONFRONTING RELATION WITH THE OPEN FORWARD END OF SAID CASING AND WITH THE OUTER PERIPHERY THEREOF DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION FROM SAID SHIELD FOR RECEIVING THEREAGAINST THE FLAME JET FROM THE BURNER NOZZLE EXTENDING AXIALLY OF THE CASING THROUGH THE OPEN FORWARD END THEREOF AND FOR DEFLECTING AND SPREADING THE FLAME JET FROM SAID TORCH BURNER OUTWARDLY BETWEEN SAID SHIELD AND SPREADER, SAID SPREADER BEING SECTIONALLY ARCUATE IN FORMATION AND LARGER THAN THE OPEN END OF SAID CASING, SO AS TO EXTEND ACROSS THE ENTIRE OPEN END THEREOF, A MOTOR DRIVEN FAN MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING WITH THE FAN DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF THE TORCH BURNER FOR DIRECTING A FLOW OF AIR PERIPHERALLY ABOUT SAID SHIELD AND FORWARDLY THEREOF TO THEREBY PRODUCE A SUC- 